A construction worker was stuck in his truck this morning after a drill he was operating punched into a power line and knocked out electricity to about 79 Xcel Energy customers.
The incident began at about 10:30 a.m. when Antonio Quezada, an employee of W.L. Contractors, was drilling to replace a concrete footer for a traffic signal on Compark Boulevard at Peoria Street in Douglas County, said Andy Lyons, spokesman for South Metro Fire Rescue.
Quezada was running a derrick digger attached to the rear of his truck when it hit the line.
“Apparently, there were three separate explosions coming out of the hole, shooting flames 4 or 5 feet into the air. It was enough to get your attention,” Lyons said.
A steel rod connecting the truck to the ground assured that the operator was safe as long as he stayed in the truck. But there was concern that if he stepped out, he could be electrocuted when his foot hit the ground, Lyons said.
“There was fear that it was energized. That is OK as long as he is on the truck, but if he steps off and he is still on the truck with one foot on the ground, he becomes a conduit,” Lyons said.
Normally power stops flowing through a line as soon as it is cut, said Xcel Energy spokesman Mark Stutz.
The driver was being cautious, he said.
“When he bored into the line, he elected to stay in the truck until he got an all clear from us,” Stutz said.
The operator left the truck safely. Power was restored for all but one of 79 customers who lost service at about 12:45 p.m., an Xcel spokesman said.
W.L. Contractors specializes in traffic-signal work. The company couldn’t be reached for comment.
Tom McGhee: 303-954-1671 or tmcghee@denverpost.com
